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MD Anderson, Houston Dynamo FC and the Houston Dash focus on cancer prevention education, community outreach, survivorship celebrations, public service announcements and philanthropic initiatives throughout the season.

Natalie Jacobs, MD Anderson Ambassador

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Meet Houston Dash Defender and MD Anderson ambassador Katie Lind

Katie Lind serves as an ambassador for MD Anderson’s mission to end cancer after experiencing her aunt’s and grandmother’s cancer diagnoses. “The goal at the end of the day is to end cancer, so this is something we all collectively want to achieve to prevent any family to have to go through what we did.” To learn more, visit: MDAnderson.org/Soccer Request an appointment at MD Anderson by calling 1-877-632-6789 or online: My.MDAnderson.org/RequestAppointment

Meet Houston Dynamo FC Defender and MD Anderson ambassador Ethan Bartlow

When Ethan Bartlow was 16 years old, his father died from cancer. “That hit our family really, really hard,” he says. Bartlow discusses his personal motivation to help MD Anderson in our mission to end cancer, along with a message for anyone facing a cancer diagnosis. To learn more, visit: MDAnderson.org/Soccer. Request an appointment at MD Anderson by calling 1-877-632-6789 or online: My.MDAnderson.org/RequestAppointment

MD Anderson and the Houston Dash team up to end cancer

MD Anderson will become the official cancer center and jersey partner of the Houston Dash from the National Women’s Soccer League starting in the 2020 season. The two organizations will collaborate through community events, public service announcements, cancer prevention initiatives, and fundraising opportunities. To learn more, visit: https://www.mdanderson.org/dash Request an appointment at MD Anderson by calling 1-877-632-6789 or online: https://my.mdanderson.org/requestappointment

MD Anderson, Houston Dynamo partner to end cancer

"Today is the start of something great," says MD Anderson President Peter WT Pisters of plans for MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Houston Dynamo to work together to end cancer. Effective Jan. 1, MD Anderson will be the the official cancer center and jersey partner of Houston's Major League Soccer (MLS) team. The collaboration is the first season-long cause-related jersey partnership in MLS history. MD Anderson and the Dynamo are planning cancer prevention education, community outreach, survivorship celebrations, public service announcements and philanthropic initiatives together. Attendees of the launch event were the first to publicly view the Dynamo's 2019 away jersey, which bears MD Anderson's strike-through-cancer logo. Pisters and Dynamo owner Gabriel Brener led the jersey reveal with team mascot Diesel in a ceremonial "Starting XI" photo with pediatric and adult cancer survivors. The co-branded jersey symbolizes the two organizations' mutual commitment to encouraging fans, club partners and the Houston community to join the team effort in Making Cancer History®. In addition to jersey branding, the partnership agreement enables MD Anderson to reach a broad, diverse and international audience through joint community events with the Dynamo, stadium signage and public service announcements. The Dynamo will engage player ambassadors in cancer prevention education initiatives and will create fundraising opportunities such as contributing a portion of the club’s ticket sales to support MD Anderson's mission to end cancer. Learn more: https://www.mdanderson.org/newsroom/2018/11/md-anderson-houston-dynamo-team-up-for-one-goal-end-cancer.html

Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash Kick Childhood Cancer

Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash players found meaningful ways to celebrate MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital patients during Major League Soccer’s Kick Childhood Cancer month. Although COVID-19 precautions limited in-person activities, the teams participated in a series of events that included a special Starting XI ceremony, surprise home visits, virtual art class, virtual bingo and more. Learn more: mdanderson.org/soccer

Support MD Anderson When You Visit the Houston Dynamo FC and Dash Team Store

Visit the Houston Dynamo FC and Dash Team Store at PNC Stadium or George R. Brown Convention Center to get your official team gear. When you make a purchase, you can round up to donate the change from your transaction. Every penny donated supports cancer research and programs at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Cancer is something that can happen to anyone, we're all in this together.

Steven Clark

Goalkeeper, Houston Dynamo FC

Tell us how you are confronting cancer.

Perhaps you are a doctor or a donor. A caregiver or friend. Or even a patient yourself. Your story may provide strength and support to others who are facing cancer. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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Cancer Prevention Education

LGBTQ+: What to know about cancer prevention

Last updated June 9, 2022

Your risk for cancer is linked to many factors, and some people are at greater risk than others.

Certain ethnic groups and people with a family history of cancer have a higher cancer risk. So do people from sexual and gender minority groups, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.

If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community, you can take steps to reduce your risk for cancer.

We talked to MD Anderson Training Specialist Mary-Ann Ball, who has taught thousands of MD Anderson employees about the unique cancer prevention challenges faced by members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Here’s her advice to help you get the best cancer prevention and treatment available.

Find a doctor you trust

The most important thing is to try your best to find a doctor you can be totally honest with. This will help you in many ways. Not only will you be able to focus more closely on your health and not on the fear of being discovered.

Your doctor will also:

be able to collect more accurate information and tailor medical care to you,
more clearly understand the stresses in your life and get a better picture of what you need, and
be able to help you ensure that your partner, if you have one, is included in your health care experience.

You can use the Healthcare Equality Index to help you find an inclusive health care provider. Some also display a rainbow sticker to signal a safe space, or you might see the equal rights sticker.

“Once you have established a trusting relationship, many other issues can be addressed more easily,” says Ball.

Stay on top of your routine health exams

When it comes to cancer, it’s important to find the disease early, when it’s easiest to treat. And it’s important to get the right screening exams at the right age.

Screening exams may correspond more closely with your gender at birth, even if you have been through a surgical transition. So, make sure your doctor knows the full story in order to help you get the right care.

“Each piece of information, including your gender identity and sexual orientation, and where you are with any transition, is important for your doctor to know,” says Ball.

Be aware of how hormones affect your cancer risk

Hormones play a part in the development of several types of cancer. So, if you take hormones as part of a gender transition or for another reason, this can raise your risk for cancer.

Make sure that you are open with your doctor. Be aware of your body and report any symptoms early so they can be investigated.

“For example, if you are a trans man who has not gone through surgery, and your doctor doesn’t know you were a female at birth, symptoms that could be linked to a disease like uterine cancer might get overlooked.”

Get help for tobacco, alcohol and drug use

Tobacco is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, so it’s important to get help to quit.

“Research shows that members of the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to smoke or use other forms of tobacco like e-cigarettes,” says Ball.

The best way to quit tobacco is to use medications and get counseling.

Counseling is especially important if you struggle with problems like depression and anxiety. These can become difficult to cope with if you try to quit alone.

MD Anderson has several research studies that offer smoking cessation support for Texas residents. Fill out our screening questionnaire to find a study that’s right for you, no matter what stage you’re at in your quitting journey.

It’s also important to get help for addictions to alcohol and drugs. Alcohol is linked to several cancers, including breast cancer, colorectal cancer and liver cancer.

Be aware of your body and report any symptoms early so they can be investigated.

Get the HPV vaccine

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease and is linked to anal, penile and cervical cancers, as well as cancers of the throat and tonsils and the vulva and vagina.

The virus is spread through sexual contact. Condoms don’t protect against HPV because it lives on the skin.

In almost all cases, the body clears HPV without any symptoms. In a small number of cases, the virus stays for longer and causes cell changes that can lead to cancer many years in the future.

Everyone is at risk for HPV, although research shows that gay men have a higher risk of getting it.

The HPV vaccine protects you from most types of the virus. Everyone ages 9 to 26 should get the HPV vaccine. It is most effective when given at ages 11 to 12. Unvaccinated men and women ages 27 to 45 should talk to their doctor about the benefits of the HPV vaccine.

Maintain a healthy weight

If you are overweight or obese, your risk for cancer is higher because the extra weight causes inflammation in your body. It also leads to hormonal changes that are linked to cancer.

The best way to maintain a healthy weight it is to eat a plant-based diet and exercise.

A plant-based diet includes vegetables, fruits, whole grains and also allows lean protein like chicken, fish and plant proteins. Fill two-thirds of your plate with plants and the remaining one-third with lean protein.

Aim to get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise every week and do a strength training routine twice a week.

Find tailored help

Finally, it may be possible to find healthy living support programs specifically designed for the LGBTQ+ community. Programs that cater to your needs and background are likely to be most effective as you work to reduce your cancer risk.

“If you can find a program that is designed for you, it will be easier for you to stay connected to the vital health care support that you need,” says Ball.

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or by calling 1-877-632-6789.

Skin color and skin cancer: 3 things to know

If you have dark skin, you may think you have natural protection from sunburns, sun damage and skin cancer. But the relationship between skin color and skin cancer is complicated.

“People with dark skin may have the misconception that they are immune to skin cancer because their skin has more melanin – or pigment,” says Ana Ciurea, M.D. “While they are less likely to get skin cancer, they are still at risk.”

What should darker-skinned people know about their skin cancer risk?

Melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, is much more common in white men and women than in Latinx or Black individuals.

But skin cancer is often detected in those with darker skin at later stages. So, their cancers are less likely to be treated successfully. For example, a recent study showed that only 67% of Black patients were alive five years after their diagnosis, compared to 92% of white patients.

Skin cancer is not harder to detect in people with dark skin. Yet, the lack of awareness among patients and medical care providers, along with the fact that the cancers develop in unusual locations, makes it less likely that cancers will be found.

“Skin cancer is highly curable if it’s found early,” says Ciurea. “The key is awareness.”

What skin cancer symptoms should darker skinned people look out for?

People with darker skin are more likely to develop skin cancer in areas that aren’t exposed to the sun, like the palms, soles of the feet, inside the mouth, in the groin area or under the nails. Between 30% and 40% of cases appear on the soles of the feet.

It’s a good idea to examine these areas regularly. And ask a friend, family member or your hairdresser to examine your scalp. Use a hand-held mirror for hard-to-see areas, and pay close attention to the feet, groin, hands and inside the mouth.

Look for dark spots that increase in size, change size, shape or color, bleed or become painful, as well as:

Non-healing sores (cuts or wounds)
Sores that go away and come back
Sores that do not heal quickly
Dark bands on the nails or around the nails

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer in darker skin. It usually looks like a pink, firm nodule. It is most likely to appear on the legs, feet, anal or genital areas.

“The most important thing to look for is change. Any suspicious mole or spot should prompt a visit to a professional,” says Ciruea.

Do people with darker skin need sunscreen?

Yes. Melanin helps protect against sun damage and reduces the chances of sunburn. But dark skin can burn, and anyone can get skin cancer.

Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen product that protects against UVA and UVB rays, with an SFP of 30 or higher. Apply it 30 minutes before going outside. Water-resistant sunscreen is best.

“Sunscreen helps, but the best way to protect your skin is to avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest,” says Ciurea.

If you have to be outside, wear protective clothing, a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses with broad-spectrum protection. And remember to reapply your sunscreen every two hours or after sweating or swimming.

Request an appointment at MD Anderson online or by calling 1-877-632-6789